Bale-tie opener



June25, 1929. F. MUD 1.718.488

BALE TIE OPENER Filed May 10, 1924 I WIII i: [a

/ l7 r -zz Zn cantor zo F Fwmua/ Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARISTIDE FREDERICK RE-NAUD, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HOUSTON COM- PRESS COMPANY, INC, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

BALE-TIE OPENER.

Application filed May 10, 1924. Serial No. 712,320.

This invention relates to a tool for breaking buckles and the like, and is more particularly designed for breaking the buckles of cotton bale ties. It will be here shown as put to such use. It will be understood, however, that it is not limited to this specific operation, but may be adapted to the breaking of other and difi'erent fastenings,

In the baling of cotton, it is customary to use ties of relatively thin metal, which ties, at their meeting ends, are bent upon themselves to form buckle engaging loops. In the baling operation, these loops are engaged with the ordinary buckle of commerce, which is substantially rectangular and fashioned somewhat in the form of a letter C and the shape of a safety pin, the tie loops being passed into the eye of the buckle through a passage in a side link and securely held thereby when the parts are brought to proper relation in the baling operation.

hen the bale is opened, it is necessary either to cut the tie, or to break the buckle. The breaking of the buckle is preferable, for the reason that its cost is small, compared with that of the tie, and preferably the tie should be preserved for repeated use. It is customary to cut the tie with an ax, or open the buckle by twisting, which, in the first case, causes a loss of about fourteen (14) inches in the length of the tie, and in the sec ond so twists and distorts the tie that the ends have to be cut off, and pieces riveted on to same before it can be restored to a usable length.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tool which, in the hands of even an unskilled workman, will very quickly and surely break the buckles, while, at the same time, the bale ties are so held that they are not subjected to any distortion, but are maintained in their original smooth, untwisted condition, ready for further use.

In the drawings herewith, I have illustrated a tool embodying my invention, which tool may, of course, be varied, so far as mechanical changes and design are concerned, and this disclosure is to be taken as merely illustrative and not restrictive of my invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a tool embodying my invention, part of the handle portions being broken away because of restricted space.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the head of the tool, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 8 is a view in plan of the head shown in Fig. 2, the bale tie and the buckle being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an end view looking from the right, Figure 3, showing the end of the tool and illustrating the buckle and bale tie in full lines.

Referring to the drawings by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, and referring first to Figure 1, the tool is made up of the handle members 10 of any suitable design and construction pivotally connected at 11, so as to be movable relative to each other. The handle members are provided with grips 12 of any suitable shape or design, and the angular relation of these grips to the handles may be varied, as desired. I have here shown in full lines a straight position, and one angular position in dotted lines.

Each of the handles 10 is provided, at its forward end, in front of the fulcrum piy'ot 11., with lever projections pivotally connected at 13 with the breaker members in the form of levers 114., which breaker members are pivoted at 15 in a supporting head formed of car rier plates 16. The members 14 terminate at theirforward ends in the reduced breaker points 17, and they are preferably geared together at 18 (see Fig. 2) in order to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements when the members 14 are rocked by the handles 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the handles 10 are in closed position, as shown in Figure 1, the members 14 will be in the position shown in Figures land 2, ready to be inserted in the eye of the buckle, and that upon spreading or opening the handles 10, the members 14 will be brought together at their inner ends, while the buckle breaking points 17 will be spread. The leverage is such that a very considerable force is exerted as the buckle breaking points 17 separate, the leverages being so worked out that the force generated is sufficient to break the buckle readily.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the tool in position with respect to the bale tie and the buckle 19. It will be seen that the points 1'? are engaged with the eye of the buckle ready for the breaking spread. In order to hold the ends of the tie 30 in normal position and prevent their being twisted or distorted, I provide the tie engaging projections 21, which are preterably integral extensions or the lever carrying plates, these projections 21 being oll'set so as to span the buckle, and having, in their ends, recesses designed to straddle the bale tie on either side of the buckle 19, and, as the tool is thrustdownward for engagement, hold the balevtie ends flat and in normal position. lTVhen thus engagechdanger or distortingthe bale tie is elin'iinated, for the breaking of the buckle is effected by the straight line movement of thespreading buckle breaking points 17, and the breaking line of the buckle is ordinarily through the back limb substantially opposite the loop receiving passage 22 to theeye 0t the buckle in the other liml Any tendency to twist the bale tie loops is counteracted by the firmgrip which the recessed bale tie engaging projections 21 exert upon the bale tie, and which holds them in flat normal position.

Notonly does the tool readily break these buckles and release the tie, but by givingv it a slight angular movement or twist after breaking the buckle, the parts of the buckle, itnot completely disengaged, may be pulled out of and withdrawn from the bale tie loops.

By the use of this tool, bales may be opened very rapidly, and without undue exertion, and what is particularly to be desired, without any destruction or distortion of the bale tie.

The tool may, of course, be made in any suitable size, and such changes in its make-up may be made and mechanical expedients other than those here shown adopted as are within the skill of the mechanic and designer, without departing from the range of my invention.

I claim 1. In a tool of the class described, the combination of a supporting head formed of spaced carrier plates; a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mount-ed between said plates and having beaker points at their forward ends adapted to be inserted in an orifice in the thing to be broken; gear sections interconnecting said levers to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements; means on said carrier plates to engage the work on each .side of the breaker points and hold it in normal position during the breaking operation, and pivotally connected handles pivotally engaged with the rear ends of said levers to rock said levers on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain.

2. In a tool for breaking bale tie buckles, the combination of a supporting head formed of spaced carrier plates; a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mounted between said plates and having breaker points at their forward ends adapted to be inserted in the eye of the buckle to be broken; interengaging gear sections on the inner adjacent edges of said levers to insure uniformand symmetrical lever movements; means to engage the "bale tie on each side'ot' the buckle and hold it in normal position during the breaking operation; and pivotally connected handles .pivotally engaged with the rear ends of said lovers to rock said levers on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain 3. In a tool for breaking bale tie buckles, the combination of a supporting head formed ,of spaced carrier plates; a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mounted between said plates and having breaker points at their forward ends adapted to be inserted in the eye of the buckle to be broken; interengaging gear sections on the adjacent .edges of said levers to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements; means projecting for wardly from said carrier plates to engage the bale tie on each side of the buckle and hold it in normal position during the breaking operation; and pivotally connected handles pivotally engaged with the rear ends of said levers to rock said levers .on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain.

4. In a tool for breaking bale tie buckles, the combinationot a supporting head formed of spaced carrier plates, a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mounted between said plates and having breaker points at their forward endsadapted to be inserted in the eye of the buckle to .be broken; interengaging gear sections on the inner adjacent edges or said levers to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements; integral projections on said carrier plates to engage the bale tie on each side of the'buckle and hold it in normal position during the breaking operation; and pivotally connected handles pivotally engaged with the rearends of said levers to rock said levers ontheirpivots,separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain.

5. In a tool forbreaking bale tie buckles, the combination of a supporting head formed of spaced carrier plates; a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mounted between said plates and havingbreaker points at their forward ends adapted to be inserted in the eyeor" the buckle to be broken; interengaging gear sections on the inner adjacent edges of said levers .to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements; integral offset projections on said carrier plates to engage the bale tie on each side of the buckle and hold it inv normal position during the break- Ling operation; and pivotally connected handles pivotally engaged with the rear ends of said levers to rock said levers on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain.

6. In a tool for breaking bale tie buckles, the combination of a supporting head formed of spaced carrier plates; a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mounted between said plates and having breaker points at their forward ends adapted to be inserted in the eye of the buckle to be broken; inter-engaging gear sections on the adjacent edges of said levers to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements; integral offset projections on said carrier plates having recesses in their forward ends to engage the bale tie on each side of the buckle and hold it in normal position during the breaking operation and pivotally connected handles pivotally engaged with the rear ends of said levers to rock said levers on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain. I

7. In a tool for breaking bale tie buckles, the combination of a supporting head formed of spaced carrier plates; the forward ends of which are offset and provided with bale tie engaging recesses; a plurality of breaker levers pivotally mounted between said carrier plates and having breaker points at their forward ends lying between the offset recessed forward ends of the carrier plates and adapted to engage the eye of the buckle to be broken; interengaging gear sections on the inner adjacent edges of said levers to insure uniform and symmetrical lever movements; and a pair of lever actuating handles pivotally connected and having projecting forward ends pivotally engaged with the rear ends of said levers to rock said levers on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain on the buckle.

8. In a tool for breaking bale tie buckles, the combination of a supporting head; levers mounted on said head and having buckle engaging breaker points at their forward ends; projections on said head to engage a bale tie on either side of the buckle and hold it in normal position during the breaking operation; a pair of pivotally connected handles, and projections at the forward ends of said handles pivotally connected to the rear ends of said levers to rock said levers on their pivots, separate the breaker points, and exert a breaking strain on the buckle.

9. In a tool of the class described, the combination of a supporting head, pivotally mounted interconnected breaker members mounted in said head, handles pivotally connected to each other and to said breaker mem bers, said head comprising carrier plates extending longitudinally of the breaker members and substantially enclosing them, and means on the said plates for engaging a bale strap, the said breaker members at their free ends projecting beyond the said means whereby they may engage a bale buckle with the said means engaging the bale strap, slight operation of the handles producing the necessary leverage upon the breaker members to separate the buckle while the said means sustains said breaker members as well as the bale stra IIl testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARISTIDE FREDERICK RENAUD. 

